I need to hear from a Minnesota DUer on this: Franken's chances in a revote?

[jmowreader]

It looks right now like Norm Coleman is going to challenge this election until either October 2014 comes around or he's finally declared a vexatious litigant.

The chances of the vexatious-litigant ruling coming through aren't all that high; they don't like to use it much because too much use would wear it out. Coleman seems to have no problem raising funds to issue challenges, so it's possible we're looking at the October 2014 thing.

Now! Suppose You the People were to raise up a revote. Establish polling places for one seven-day week. No absentee ballots. No campaigning except for television announcements where Norm Coleman and Al Franken stand side-by-side and speak these words and only these words: "Please vote in the Minnesota Senate revote from March 1 to March 7. (Or whenever it is.) Minnesota's future is at stake." Each polling place is monitored by one Democrat and one Republican from out of state. Mail every registered voter in Minnesota a card with his or her name printed on it. The voter takes it to a polling place, shows ID and the card (to ensure thieves haven't been ransacking mailboxes looking for the cards so they can deliver them to the Republicans), exchanges it for a ballot, and marks it with a pen (of any kind so long as the ink in it is permanent) for either Al Franken or Norm Coleman. The voter then puts the ballot in a numbered, welded steel ballot box. At the end of the voting day, a lid will be pop-riveted over the ballot slot before the monitors put the ballot box in a car and take it to City Hall, where it will be placed with all the other ballot boxes from the community, loaded into a big SUV like a Suburban or an Expedition, and driven, with two Democrats and two Republicans who can only do this once, to the headquarters of the 133rd Airlift Squadron in St. Paul, where they will be locked in a hangar and guarded by armed active duty Marine infantrymen who are not from Minnesota. At the end of the voting period, the ballot boxes will be palletized, loaded on a C-130 and flown to Europe. There elections officials armed with Sawzalls will account for every box, cut the ballot boxes open and count the votes. Whoever wins this one is in the Senate. No challenges. The ballot boxes will be made in Canada, and inspected by two Democrats and two Republicans to ensure they're empty before they're welded together. They will then be shrinkwrapped using a purple film--red plus blue make purple, and since most shrinkwrap is clear the elections officials would be able to verify the boxes hadn't been pre-stuffed prior to using them. Maybe even hire a plumber to use his video inspection device to examine the inside of the ballot box before it's used, and of course never let it out of the sight of a Democrat and a Republican.

Preventing voter caging would also be important. If you were registered to vote in November, and you neither died nor got convicted of a felony, you get a card. No questions asked.

Should this happen, how badly do you think Coleman would lose?

[bigtree]

1. the hell with that

I'm sure many other losers would like a re-do, but it doesn't work that way in Minnesota.

[MineralMan]

2. There is nothing in MN law that would allow a revote.

This will have to go through the courts. That's what the law says. We're pretty much law-abiders up here in East Jesus.

[elocs]

7. It's refreshing to see a poster who is actually from MN post on this subject.

I read far too many posters here who have no real idea about MN rant on about this when they don't really know the situation. MN has a legal process that must be followed and before that is finished or Coleman concedes Franken cannot magically be declared the winner. If there is a way to provisionally seat him, then that is another matter. We should be law abiders all the time and not just when it suits us, otherwise that would make us Republicans.

[MineralMan]

8. It's all very frustrating. The panel of judges who are hearing

this case are losing patience as Coleman's team keeps trying to change the rules. They just keep ruling against these changes, but they keep coming.

But, as frustrating as it is, it has to run its course. I like Franken. I caucused for him at two levels of the caucus system. I've donated to his campaign, and I hope like heck he prevails. I'm pretty confident that he will.

It's not going to happen right away, though. The court has to listen to whatever nonsense the Coleman team tries to get by it, and then rule on each motion. It takes a long time, and Coleman's team seems to have an endless supply of delaying motions.

Finally, they're going to have to rule on, and count, whatever additional absentee ballots they deem acceptable.

Then, there will be an appeal to the MN Supreme Court, which will almost certainly uphold the decision of the panel of judges. Then, I suppose Coleman's team will attempt a federal appeal, even though elections are a state matter.

Frankly, I don't expect a Senator to be seated until late Spring. I don't like it, but there it is. It was a very, very close election and such things can be very time-consuming.

[elocs]

9. I just hate to see posters here insinuate that there's something wrong with the MN election process.

MN is not FL and it is not OH. It would be great if more states had an election process as good as that of MN which has paper ballots that can be recounted and an electorate that is involved the get out and vote in numbers that are greater than most every other state. This was an insanely close election given the margin between the candidates and the number of votes cast. There really is nothing for it but to wait until the process plays out. Nobody will be able to legitimately claim that Franken was strong armed into being seated in the Senate.

[MineralMan]

10. I agree. Minnesota has a very good, fair election process.

[dsc]

12. I am OK with everything MN did except not letting the winner serve

as temporary Senator until the dispute is settled. Franken should be seated and if Coleman eventually reverses then so be it.

[Hokie]

3. Franken would beat Coleman easily in a two way race

I think I saw a poll where 60% of the Barkley voters would have voted for Franken in a 2 way race. Coleman is now politically dead after this contest trial. The judges in the contest trial have just about had it with Coleman's foot dragging and grandstanding. Coleman knows he will lose this trial He is aiming for friendlier confines in federal court, esp. SCOTUS. It could eventually play out as confrontation between SCOTUS and the Senate when they seat Franken.

[Cleita]

5. I don't think SCOTUS will hear it.

They have impeachment hovering over their heads for their unconstitutional meddling in the 2000 presidential election and the present economic depression caused by that decision. If SCOTUS won't hear it, then that should end it. I don't think Minnesota will want to do a new election then. JMHO.

[ThomWV]

4. As much as I like your version - for every vote - it won't happen

But you would think that the Court must know it is duty bound to act quickly and to come to a conclusion.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Minnesota law has no provisions for a revote.

But if there were one, Al would kick his ass.

[Occam Bandage]

11. There will not be a revote. It's like asking what his chances are in a footrace on the moon.